Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 1899. The Candidate.

Manawatu Herald, 28 November 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 1899. The Candidate.

♦ The two gentlemen who are so j>ohfc as to be desirous of representing thi constituency of Manawatu in parliament have now both addressed the electors at the southern end of the district and if anything either have said is any guide to the electors, they have n/>w the opportunity to make their selection. We, however, doubt if what has been said to the electors at the public meetings is of any use to them to guage the value of either as a representative, and the electors must fall back upon some other system oi weighing their respective merits. Mr Bruce is decidedly against the Government, and Mr Stevens as strongly in favour of them. We have never had, and stand no chance of getting, a Government against which nothing can be urged against) nor a Government which has been so bad that nc good thing can be said in their favour. The greatest sin the present Government has been guilty of is that of remaining in office for such a long term, a fact that until now had jnever been known, and the Opposition is puzzled as to how they have been so successful, and not finding a satisfactory answer, allege that it must be due to jobbery and corruption, and on very bad foundation they have made no end of attacks with the hope of proving their suspicions. This curiousmental state reminds us of a some what similar commotion stirred in the English yachtsmen by the American yacht when she first sailed in the match at the Isle of Wight for the Challenge Cup. Owing to her build and her light canvas she sailed away from the very fastest of the English boats, and so astonished where their owners that a rumour gained credence that she had concealed engines some where in her that assisted her sailin? powers. Luckily for the credit of thf Americans their yacht ran on a rrrnd bank near the end of the season which needed her being docked, when it w^. very plain there was nothing under hand in her means of progression. By this the Opposition may learn that what has kept the Government so long in power is not necessarily owing to any improper use ot their position but from their knowledge how to meet the popular wants at the right time. It is perhaps unfortunate that there if no man in parliament the equal to the Premier, and an idea thus gets abroad that he is the only man in the Government, and no one likes the idea of a dictator. Comparing this position with what might occur if the Opposition got into power, the electors must see that on the one hand they have good government, directed by one who knows not only what he wants, for the benefit of the colony, but know? also how to get it, whereas the Opposition have no good leader and must meet as a collection ot atom? which would require more skill than the party possesses to weld into one complete whole. If they know what they want they have most curiously refused to inform the electors, and the issue they ask for support to their party is, to oust Mr Seddon from power and take them wholly on trust to do better. We have never known such an issue to have been placed before the electors, and to use a term freely used by Mr Bruce in his public addresses, " I appeal to your intelligence," as to whether such a blindfold support is to be given. ' Taking the two candidates into consideration, we have in Mr Bruce a gentleman who has been aroused from his pastoral pursuits up the Turakina valley by the call of his friends, and has entered into the political turmoil with no great relish for the job. This is a fact that he has publicly made known and thus whilst to be congratulated on his consideration for others, it does not lead those who do not need his services in parliament simply to work at the lever to turn Mr Seddon out, to have much hope that he would be very energetic in the conduct of his representative duties, which are in addition to his parliamentary work. From a reply to a questioner at his Foxton meeting Mr Bruce made it clear that his knowledge of this district was very indifferent, which he would have- to greatly improve before he would really be " a fit and proper person" to represent us. Local knowledge of the whole district is of the utmost importance in a representative assembly whose chief duty is the fair allotment of the taxes for public works to benefit the taxpayers, and it requires much tact and thorough knowledge to prevent a local claim from being ienored. If Mr Bruce lived nearer the district than he does he would be more likely, if elected, to have an opportunity of improving his knowledge, but we fear bis position

prevents his being able to devote the time which would be necessary. Mr John Stevens has known this coast from his infancy, and knows every old settler better than anybody I else. He has had the advantage of having represented the district in past j parliaments, and so far as his local I knowledge is concerned he is hard to beat. We are also well aware that he has been most attentive to all representations made to him, and has been most successful in getting the Government to pay heed to his representations. The Opposition like to term this as " spoils to the victor " policy, but we, who have resided here many years know that it is exceedingly more satisfactory to secure the undertaking of a public work, like the Wirokino bridge, which has been needed for years, than to be told the surplus had been spent in other more favoured localities, an experience we underwent or the many years we returned Mr J. G. Wilson to parliament. The Wiro kino bridge was no more a " spoils to the victor " business than many another charge the opponents to the Government like to make, The erection of the bridge was initiated by a public meeting in this Borough, and was urged upon the Government by the Bwough Council, and the Councils of Manawatu and Hoifawhenua counties, the members of which councils cannot be accused of much leaning towards the Literal party. The . energetic action of. Mr SjeVgns secured the boon sough 1 1; bi.it the Government insisted oti ihe good faith of the public bodiesbeing shown» by calling upon them to contribute one-half the cost. Because the Government assisted the public bodies an attempt is made to suggest that they desired to bribe this constituency. For downright nonsensf« there is nothing to beatsnch an assertion, as the local bodies had but to ; refuse to find their quota of the cost and then the Government's •• bribery " would have been lost. We notice that the public bodies have been only too pleased that their application has been successful, and we ought to bear in mind the member whose services so materially assisted the business. The day is not far distant when the scheme, we advocated spme seven or, eight years ago, for a road over the ranges to the Wairarapa will be carried out. Mr Stevens has secured a survey of the line, and those who desire to see the first steps developed should see that the representative they return understands the whole of the ins and tuts of the question. Some wise man ias described gratitude as being shown only for favours to come, but there is such an old fashioned thing as being grateful for what we have received, but looked at from either point the electors should have little trouble in deciding on which candidate they can best bestow such gratitude.